FAQs

Solid State Drives

Q2:
Do ADATA solid state drives support different OS (Windows/Linux, etc.)?

A: Yes. All ADATA solid state drives are designed and tested to industry standard specifications and requirements laid out by platform holders and professional associations and forums. Each product passes strict compatibility testing with its intended operating systems. The vast majority of ADATA solid state drives are Windows and Linux compatible, while external storage adds Android plus devices such as Xbox and PlayStation. If you have any question for specific details, please check the ADATA website or contact our customer service center.

Q3:
What does the term “4K sector” refer to?

A: As a legacy operating system, Windows XP uses the older 512-bit minimum sector size. Later operating systems and current storage devices use 4096-bit minimum sector sizes, or 4K sectors. This is due to higher storage density and the need to handle bigger files faster, and means that Windows XP is not optimized for SSD, resulting in reduced speed and affecting other performance parameters. To avoid this, we strongly recommend using our SSDs with Windows 7 or later. Do note Windows XP is no longer supported by Microsoft.

Q5:
What is the difference between SATA 3.0 & SATA 2.0 specifications?

A: The Serial ATA-International Organization has launched what is often called “SATA 3”, a 6 gigabit per second (Gbps) standard. The older SATA II specification has a maximum speed of 3Gbps.

Q6:
Why do I need to update the firmware on my drive? (SandForce SSD)

A: ADATA releases bug fixes, performance enhancements, and other important updates via new firmware releases that are directly available for end-users. Updating to the latest supported firmware will help ensure your ADATA SSD is able to operate at peak performance and stability.

Q7:
Do SSDs Require Defragmentation?

A: SSD’s use wear-leveling, which is a technique for prolonging the service life of some kinds of erasable computer storage media, such as Flash memory used in solid-state drives (SSDs). Defragmenting is not required.

Q8:
What is Wear-Leveling function?

A: Wear leveling is a process that is designed to extend the life of solid state storage devices. SSDs are store data in blocks. Each block can tolerate a finite number of program/erase cycles before becoming unreliable. For example, MLC NAND flash is typically rated at about 3,000 program/erase cycles. Wear leveling arranges data so that write/erase cycles are distributed evenly among all of the blocks in the device.

Q9:
I received an alert when I tested my SSD with HDtune. What should I do?

A: Early SSDs do not support this feature, so it is possible that the alert may be a false alarm. However, if the product shows an alert when tested, it is recommended to contact customer service for further confirmation.

Q10:
How should I back up important data for secure storage? How long can it be stored?

A: Of the current varieties of storage media, including CD-ROM, hard drive, & SSD, none can offer secure permanent storage of data. Therefore, it is recommended that critical data be backed up on several different devices to spread the risk.

Q11:
How long is the expected lifespan of an SSD? How should I use an SSD to ensure the longest life expectancy? (How to properly use the SSD to minimize loss.)

A: Currently the average SSD has a built-in erase function and error correction mechanism to increase the lifespan. But in general, SSD lifespan is determined by the frequency of usage and the working environment. The greater the number of data writes to the drive, and the higher the ambient temperature, the lower the useful lifespan of the SSD.

Q12:
What should I do if the data transfer speed seems abnormally slow?

A: SSDs employ built-in wear leveling technology to guarantee the life span of the drive. Slow data transmission may be due to ongoing internal restructuring from this function. But this situation is uncommon, especially if it is recurring. If that is that case, contact the customer service staff directly for assistance.

Q13:
My PC can’t detect the SSD. What can I do?

A: First, check that SSD SATA and power cables are properly seated and secured. The next step is to try the SSD with a different SATA port. If the issue persists, go into the BIOS and check that the SSD device ID is listed in the boot sequence section. Also check that the same device ID is listed in the Windows device manager. If the SSD isn’t listed in either or if the issue continues, it’s advisable to try the same SSD on a different PC to check whether the drive or the system are the source of the issue. If the problem remains after these steps, please contact ADATA support for further assistance.

Q14:
Why is my actual capacity of the product less than what is marked on the packaging? How much less capacity is reasonable?